Sex and the city movie (2008)

Go out and grab your girlfriends, a cosmo (or two or three), and sit back and enjoy the "chickflick" of all chickflicks. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and 'the girls' are back for one more shot at love, romance, and happiness.

We see Carrie and the girls 5 years later (from when the show ended) and between conversation and flashbacks we were caught up to what's been going on in their lives over the last few years. In short... Miranda is with Steve and they are having marital problems. Steve cheated on Miranda, she got mad and moved out. Charlotte is living her happily ever after married life, adopts a baby, has a bunch of really adorable dogs, and gets the best news of all...she's pregnant. Samantha has temporarily put her mojo to rest and is still with the same youngin' actor/model living in LA now. She's bored out there though and flyes back to NY every opportunity she gets. She also has a really hot naked neighbor. That leaves our girl Carrie. What happened to her since that kiss with Big (Chris Noth) - whose real name we finally find out - in Paris? Well...she and Big are together again (after many more breakups) and they finally decide to get married.

Get married???? WWHHHAAAATTTT!?!?!? That's right. Dream come true (you'd think). It started out as a small wedding, but because of the status and connections of Carrie and Big, the wedding process turns into a three ring circus. Unfortunately, Carrie is left at the alter. She's devestated. Crushed. Broken. Takes her girlfriends on her honeymoon with her. Doesn't help. You see Carrie heal and try to get over Big over the next few months. We've all been there. Been hurt. Try to recover and move on... But not really ever letting go. It's a tough road, and through it all we have our friends.

So how does this story end? Miranda and Steve try to work things out, Charlotte has her baby and is as happy as ever, and Samantha leaves her youngin' and moves back to NY where she belongs. Carrie, well Carrie in true 'Sex and the City' fashion, goes to get her shoes that are still in 'her and Big's' apt before the lease runs out and she looses her shoes forever and finds Big there, waiting. They get married - a small, circus free wedding this time and live happily ever after (I hope)

Overall, this movie was great. The emotions were real, the girls were back and in rare form and the clothes, bags, and shoes were all fabulous. Its an enjoyable, fun filled must see movie.

By Lauren Boykin

Smart People (2008)

Probably a movie to see before it is completely out of theatres. Smart People grew on me the more I thought about it; as it seems to be one of the only films that I have seen this year with substance. I have always tried to avoid Dennis Quaid movies. It has been a life long effort, but he works in this one.

Truth be told, I only saw this movie because it has Juno’s Ellen Page in it. She’s great! The scene that introduces her is completely Juno. It is as if the film makers are reminding the audience where they know this girl from.

The movie is billed as an old crusty academic brought back to life. In fact, the week it opened the week as the The Visitor opened, which is a movie that is billed the same way. Smart People is more than that.

What I found refreshing were two things, despite Ms. Page. First is that generally smart people were the subjects of the film; in an American culture that praises stupidity and dumb luck. Like in any movie, it starts with conflict. An un-smart adopted brother comes to live with the family. Unlike most movies, he is not hero; the family is not saved by his stupidity. Their smartness is not killing them and they need to lighten up, which can only be accomplished by a fun loving hedonist. Although, the brother is a changing force, he neither solves all their problems nor is all their problems solved by the end.

The second thing that was refreshing is that it was a good family drama. It was one without a political agenda, and the characters dealt with the pettiness of everyday life.

The worst part of the movie, was the Page character comes on to her adopted uncle which was a little sickening, unfortunately, he doesn’t reciprocate. Again, there was the old woman playing unconvincing a younger woman. Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP, plays woman who is suppose to be about 28 years old, when SJP looks very much her age of 43 yrs. old. She is a good choice as a romantic interest for crusty old Quaid, because they look close enough in age.

Smart People has no real center of drama. Instead, it is series of drama’s big and small. Everyone in the family has a problem and is insensitive to the others problems. Their value is overlooked by each other, and nothing gets fully resolved; but somehow everyone soldiers on, and it is that which makes the movie enjoyable. When it ends the view is left wanting more. You feel like want the story to continue, because it makes so much progress in its own way and you care about the characters. Caring about the character is something which is a bit rare so far in this movie year. So, I highly recommend this one.